Michigan finally bans open garbage burning. Some of it, anyway....sort of

Michigan finally bans open garbage burning. Some of it, anyway....sort of

This week Michigan became one of the last Great Lakes state to outlaw burning trash in outdoor burn barrels.

But, not really.

The legislation signed into law allows open burning, but prohibits the most toxic items. Stuff like foam, plastic, rubber, chemicals, electronics, etc.

That's better than nothing. And the evidence that open burning is a huge health hazard is unequivocal.

But we're disappointed the ban didn't include all household wastes. And, that it included language forbidding the state from outlawing the burning of any materials not on the legislation's list.

With more than half the state's residents living in places that exceed allowable levels of particulate matter, there's no need to add to the harm. It's 2012, and we have better systems in place to recycling, reuse, and more safely dispose of our garbage.

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